Architecture comes alive in these two illuminating looks at the prolific and impressive
career of I.M. Pei. An amazingly creative man, Pei won notable contracts in the 60s and later got
several of the century's most distinguished jobs, such as renovating the Louvre in Paris. Pei
participates heavily in the docu, explaining his career heights and the depths too, such as when
windows began to fall out of a building designed by his company - by the hundreds.

Synopsis:

First Person Singular: Architect I.M. Pei's life and work are chronicled from his
boyhood in China to his studies in America and rise to prominence. Various of his buildings are covered,
including a massive high rise in Hong Kong, an Ohio Rock and Roll Museum, and his grand renovation of The
Louvre. The Museum on the Mountain: This shorter doc examines the story behind the construction of an
amazing building high up in a remote Japanese site where a castle was once planned, hundreds of years ago.

Some documentaries on architect Frank Lloyd Wright have been almost depressing in their revelation of a man beset with
personal tragedies, and who had problems relating to clients and people in general. I.M. Pei is quite the
opposite, a small Chinese man whose talent, creativity and charm elevated him into the top rank of international
architects. We see him in person explaining and defending his achievements, and sometimes just beaming with
simple pride over them.

What Savant knows about architecture can be written on the head of a pin, so it was refreshing to watch two
documentaries that make the kinds of concepts and challenges Pei faced seem so accessible. One of the main focuses
is the Louvre project, a maze of bureaucratic obstacles inside obstacles. The basic use of the buildings hadn't
changed for
over a hundred years, with one wing of the museum occupied by the accounting and disbursement part of the government
that funded Pei's work. One of his first requests was that the people signing his checks clear out to free the
structure for more museum space! If the red tape from that jolt wasn't enough, Pei's plan was to repurpose the area
between the Louvre's wings from civil service parking, and plant a big glass pyramid in the middle that had nothing
to do with the classic structures all around.

Walking the finished construction confirms Pei's genius. The Pyramid compliments the traditional surroundings
without distorting them. By relocating the museum entrances through underground passages, Pei allowed access
to the Louvre from entirely new directions, making it a cultural crossroads instead of a one-purpose destination.
As the renovation was a major strategic move for Francois Mitterrand, Pei's work became politically relevant: the
pride of France at the highest cultural level was determined by a foreign architect, and not even a native
European.

Another interesting section uses good archival photos to document the search for an architect to design a memorial
building for John F. Kennedy. Jackie brought a score of the top names in the world to a meeting where Pei was a
relative beginner, but he won the job. It ended up taking the better part of a decade just to decide where and how
the memorial would be built.

Part of the show presents opening days at both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio and The Miho Museum, built on
a remote Japanese mountainside. The second, shorter documentary on this disc deals with that project exclusively. What
it lacks in
scope it makes up for in detail - both the location for the construction and the difficult politics that led to
Pei's being chosen lend themselves to a fascinating story. Japan and China haven't always been close neighbors, to
put it politely, and Pei's diplomatic skills winning and keeping the job should be studied by heads of state who
want to make peace in the world.

The Miho Museum ends up remarkable just because of where it was built. The steep forested cliffs form a jewel-like
setting around the building complex that becomes as important as the construction itself - it really looks as if one
has stepped into an ancient Japanese painting. The entrance to the museum is a stark bridge jutting from a tunnel in
the middle of an adjacent green hill, with the illusion that nary a tree has been disturbed except exactly where the
museum stands. It's an amazing place with spiritual qualities not usually associated with modern
architecture. The opening day footage shows I.M. Pei pacing in the lobby of the virgin museum as thousands of VIPs
mingle outside waiting to be the first through the doors. The docu allows us to share Pei's excitement.

Home Vision Entertainment's DVD of I.M. Pei: First Person Singular & The Museum on the Mountain are
clean and functional transfers from materials that overall are top-quality. It's mostly the carefully-chosen camera
angles that allow us to perceive the finer aspects of Pei's various creations. The medium for much of the shooting
seems to be 16mm, which has its limitations, but the visuals are always better than adequate. The shows make generous
use of classical music, which is nicely mixed.

An interesting addendum is an interactive section that examines in detail 20 of Pei's buildings, illustrated with
photographs. This modest disc is highly recommended for architecture buffs and to anyone who might become
interested in architecture as a calling; it's truly inspirational.

On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor,I.M. Pei: First Person Singular & The Museum on the Mountainrates:Movie: Excellent
Video: Good
Sound: Good
Supplements: Interactive Project featuring photos and descriptions of 20 structures by I.M. PeiPackaging: Keep case
Reviewed: December 2, 2003